Eagles' Jackson looking to add red-zone receiver' to job description

Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson (10) scores on a 12-yard touchdown reception against Tampa Bay during the second quarter of Sunday’s game in Tampa, Fla. It’s the second straight week Jackson has a TD reception from the red zone. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Two times in as many weeks, including his 12-yard connection with Foles last weekend, Jackson has hauled in a touchdown pass in a drive that culminated for the Eagles inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.

It’s difficult to fathom, but Jackson had only four such touchdown receptions in his entire career coming into this season. By comparison, Jackson — the sixth-year wideout who’s regarded as a home run-hitting receiver — has nine scoring catches of 60 or more yards.

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“In the past, they’d take me out and leave two tight ends,” Jackson said following Tuesday’s practice, of his past opportunities to score in the red zone. “Now I’m more interactive in the red zone. Hopefully I’ll get more opportunities … to go out there and be more successful in the red zone. It’s an addition to my game.

“Whatever you want to call it, but as a wide receiver, you want to give (your quarterbacks) chances in the red zone. Home run hitters, in the red zone — it’s all about putting points on the board. That’s what I love to do.”

Jackson wouldn’t go as far as to say he was frustrated over being removed from the game after the Eagles had marched the ball inside the 20-yard line. But new coach, new chance to prove himself, he said.

“Sometimes, you get taken out of the game,” said Jackson, who has 34 catches for 589 yards and five touchdowns this season. “It’s just something I kept working with and I figured sooner or later I’d get my opportunity.”

Speaking of switching things up in regard to Jackson, the Eagles have thrown the slender receiver into packages that put him in the slot — another rarely seen element in his game. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said lining up Jackson in the slot, on which one of his two touchdowns last weekend came, is a matchup-related decision.

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Left tackle Jason Peters, safety Patrick Chung and running back Chris Polk, all of whom are dealing with shoulder injuries, missed practice.

Peters, who missed part of Sunday’s game after having his right shoulder looked at, stood on the practice field without a helmet. He’s probably more likely to play than Chung, who reinjured his left shoulder at Tampa Bay and did not return to the game. Defensive coordinator Billy Davis said Chung’s injury is nerve-related and called the fifth-year man’s status “day to day.”

“It’s a nerve thing. He’s having a couple different things looked at,” said Davis, who added that Chung failed a test on the afflicted shoulder.

Chung said he’s hopeful he can go because he has some experience with Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, against whom he played two seasons ago while with New England.

“He’s a good quarterback,” Chung said of Romo. “He makes a lot of plays, gets out of the pocket. … He’s an escape artist.”

Polk’s right shoulder injury is disconcerting because of the Eagles’ lack of depth at his position. Should Polk be unavailable Sunday, the team might have to make a roster move in order to carry a third running back.

“Too soon to say,” Polk said, in regard to whether he’d be available this weekend.